ADHD Symptoms and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Ontario: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Sex Differences and Covariates
Abstract
Objective: 1) Estimate the prevalence of self-reported ADHD symptoms in sample of youth (grades 9-12) in Ontario schools, by sex; and 2) Assess the relationship between ADHD symptoms and substance use (alcohol, tobacco cigarettes, cannabis, stimulants) by sex, controlling for socio-economic status, internalizing and externalizing problems.
Methods: Data from 2015 and 2017 (n = 6,923) Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, included self-reports of ADHD symptomatology and substance use. Statistical analyses included bivariate tables and multinomial regressions.
Results: Prevalence for ADHD symptoms was 20.22%, 95% CI [18.52, 22.03] (males = 16.42%, 95% CI [14.66, 18.34]; females = 24.06%, 95% CI [21.79, 26.49]). Females reporting ADHD symptoms showed increased risk of tobacco cigarette use and cannabis use when accounting for covariates.
Conclusion: The ADHD symptom screener found a large proportion of self-reported ADHD symptoms, especially in females. ADHD symptoms were associated with few substances.